Chapter 5: Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration- Vocab

Question 1

Abbasid

Answer 1

Cosmopolitan Arabic dynasty (750–1258) that replaced the Umayyads; founded by Abu al-Abbas and reached its peak under Harun al-Rashid.

Question 2

Chinggis Khan

Answer 2

1162–1227 C.E. Founder and first Kahn (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in the history of the world up to that time.

Question 3

Ghaznavid Turks

Answer 3

Turkish tribe under Mahmud of Ghazni who moved into northern India in the eleventh century and began a period of greater Islamic influence in India.

Question 4

Ilkhanate of Persia

Answer 4

Mongol state that ruled Persia after abolition of the Abbasid empire in the thirteenth century.

Question 5

Jurchen

Answer 5

Nomadic peoples who moved into northern China and dominated it from 1127 CE until Mongol raiding parties starting in 1211 CE.

Question 6

Karakorum

Answer 6

The sumptuous Mongol capital established by the successors of Chinggis Khan

Question 7

Khan

Answer 7

“Rulers” of nomadic people (or a successor of Chinggis Khan).

Question 8

Khanate of Chaghatai

Answer 8

A khanate that continued to prevail in central Asia despite the collapse of Mongol regimes in Persia and China.

Question 9

Khanbaliq

Answer 9

“city of the khan,” served as the Mongol capital in China and used to be the Jurchen capital. Near modern Beijing.

Question 10

Khans of the Golden Horde

Answer 10

A khanate (started by Khubilai’s cousins and brothers when they overran Russia in the 1230s) that dominated the Caucasus and the steppe lands north of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea until the mid-16th century when it was brought down by a resurgent Russian state.

Question 11

Khubilai Khan

Answer 11

1215–1294 C.E. Grandson of Chinggis Khan and founder of the Yuan dynasty in China in 1271.

Question 12

Khwarazm Shah

Answer 12

Ruler of Afghanistan and Persia in 1218, when Chinggis Khan sought to trade with his realm. After Khwarazm shah murdered Chingiss Khan’s envoys, Chinggiss’ forces devastated Persia in 1219.

Question 13

Kumiss

Answer 13

An alcoholic drink of the nomadic groups of Central Asia made of fermented mare’s milk.

Question 14

Manichaeism

Answer 14

A religion that many Turks had converted to by the 6th century CE. It offered salvation through special knowledge of spiritual truths.

Question 15

Mongols

Answer 15

A nomadic people that originally lived on the high steppe lands of eastern central Asia with deep kin loyalty and brilliant horse riders that was first unified by Chinggis Khan.

Question 16

Osman

Answer 16

1258–1326 c.e. Also known as Osman Gazi. Founder of the Ottoman dynasty and the Ottoman state.

Question 17

Ottoman Empire

Answer 17

Powerful Turkish empire that lasted from the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453 until 1918 and reached its peak during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566).

Question 18

Safavid

Answer 18

Later Persian empire (1501–1722) that was founded by Shah Ismail and that became a center for Shiism; the empire reached its peak under Shah Abbas the Great and was centered on the capital of Isfahan.

Question 19

Seljuq Turks

Answer 19

Turkish tribe that gained control over the Abbasid empire and fought with the Byzantine empire.

Question 20

Shamans

Answer 20

Belief in shamans or religious specialists who possessed supernatural powers and who communicated with the gods and the spirits of nature.

Question 21

Sultan

Answer 21

“chieftan” or “ruler.” Tughril Beg was a Seljuq Turk that the Abbasids recognized as sultan.

Question 22

Sultanate of Delhi

Answer 22

A turkish sultanate that claimed authority over all of Northern India, established by the Ghaznavid Turks through raiding.

Question 23

Tamerlane

Answer 23

1336–1405 c.e. Also known as Timur. Founder of the Timurid Empire in modern-day Iran and Central Asia.

Question 24

Temüjin

Answer 24

Mongol conqueror (ca. 1167–1227) who later took the name Chinggis Khan, “universal ruler.”

Question 25

Uighurs

Answer 25

Literate Turkish warriors that lived in oasis cities along the Silk Roads. They acted as clerks, secretaries, and units of soldiers for the Mongols.

Question 26

Yuan Dynasty

Answer 26

Chinese dynasty (1279–1368) that was founded by the Mongol ruler Khubilai Khan.

Question 27

Yurts

Answer 27

Tents used by nomadic Turkish and Mongol tribes.